September18, 20009

Gene is running a temperature tonight and is very tired.  He is sleeping most of the time.  He will open his eyes when visitors come in or when the caregivers speak to him, but he can't focus for more than a few seconds.  He closes his eyes and seems to be sleeping.

Emily and Betsy have spent lots of time with him today.  Emily arrived fairly early this morning and waited for Betsy.  After lunch they returned for a good bit of time this afternoon.  Emily worked on giving him a manicure.  She is so attentive to his feet and hands. Actually to providing for him or advocating for the things that she can't provide.  She is feeling somewhat discouraged right now - her tiredness and her back probably contribute to that. 

They have been running cultures on Gene's blood, sputum, and urine.  So far the blood culture is showing nothing, and the urine is showing nothing.  The sputum did come back with something and several recommended antibiotics - it doesn't appear to be resistant to antibiotics.  He should start on something tonight or tomorrow.

During the afternoon the alarm on his heart monitor kept sounding.  They have it hooked up to a monitor at the nurses station now, and they are keeping an eye on it, but the rate varied dramatically from low 70's to 100 teens.  The nurse seemed to think that it might have to do with his temperature.  Right now they have put him on some medicine, and seem to think that it's not terribly alarming.

Prayer requests
Please pray for Gene to regain his strength, for his fever to return to normal, and his respiration to grow stronger.  Pray for Emily to have peace.